Artificial limb



(No Model.) 7 I Y A. GAULT.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB. No. 496,645 Patented May 2, 1893.,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER GAULT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,645, dated May 2, 1893.

Application filed July 14, 1892. Serial No. 439,975. (No model.)

vertical section of an artificial limb contain-,

ing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of'the foot, viewed from the bottom. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a spring used in the sole of the foot. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a wear compensating device.

In making an artificial limb containing my improvements, I make a plaster cast, A, of the desired size and shape for the particular limb in connection with which it is to be used. In order to strengthen this plaster cast against strains and liability of breakage, I arrange longitudinal strips of thin metal, B, which may be of aluminum, brass or other suitable material, combining the requisite strength and lightness. These metal strips may be as wide and long as desired to secure the desired strength, and of a shape to conform to the shape of the plaster cast at the point where they are intended to be used. After they are placed in position, they are nailed or riveted to the plaster cast by nails or rivets b, or fastened in any other desired and suitable manner. Where nails or rivets are used, the ends should be cut 0E to present a smooth exterior surface. I then inclose the plaster cast and metal strips by vulcanized rubber B, which may be applied in the usual way. I make the foot of felt, O, and, in order to give it the necessary spring to make it approximate in its actionas nearly as possible the natural foot, I arrange in the bottom a spring, '0. In order to fasten and hold this spring in place, I arrange in the instep of the foot what I term a shoe, D. This shoe is provided with a bolt 0', embedded in the felt at the upper side and where it is attached to the vulcanized portion of the limb. By screwing this bolt in or out, the shoe may be clamped tightly against the spring C, or loosened and removed therefrom. In use, it will be understood of course that it is to be screwed closely against the spring, so as to press it against the 'felt, and thus, by the degree of pressure, regulate the degree of its elasticity, The forward portion of the spring passes between the felt foot and preferably a leather sole, D, fastened on the bottom of the same. In this way, it is securely held in position, and is capable of imparting the desired elasticity to the foot.

The upper portion of the limb is attached to the lower portion by a joint at the knee, and in order to effect this attachment, I provide the upper portion with a rounded lower end, and I provide the lower portion with upwardly extending lugs, E, that lie adjacent to the side of the upper portion of the limb. These lugs are provided with holes, as is the lower end of the upper portion of the limb, and a bolt E is passed through the holes to pivotally connect the "upper and the lower portions of the limb together. As the hole, through which the bolt E passes, becomes more or less worn in use, there is a liability of the parts becoming loose in their connection, unless means be provided to take up or compensate for this wear. In order to pro vide for this, I fasten a substantially U shaped strap, F, to the upper portion of the limb, with its bent or lower portion under the bolt E, and in order to keep this strap in contact with the bolt, I arrange a screw f extending up from the lower end of the upper portion of the limb, and with its point resting against the strap F. This screw passes through a nut f embedded in the limb, so that by screwing it in the strap F will be moved by the point of the screw up against the bolt E. As the hole wears, this screw may be turned in as far as desired from time to time to keep the strap against the bolt, so as to raise and hold it against the upper edge of the hole in the upper portion of the limb through which it passes. The U-shaped strap, F, is of course made with sufficient elasticity to enable its sides to spring or bulge out enough to permit the screw to lift it against the bolt when screwed in. As it is obvious that the strap could be modified in form and arrangement, or entirely dispensed with, and the point of the screw f serve to lift and hold the bolt in its up position, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described.

To remove the bolt, E, a rectangular hole e is provided in it, by which it may be turned I to screw or unscrew it to or from its connections.

As limbs are liable to be broken by suddenly bending at the knee-as in the case of a fall-so that the upper and lower portions are folded together, I have provided the upper portion with a cushion, G, in position to strike 'against the upper end of the lower portion of the limb, should the two parts be suddenly and violently folded together. This cushion lessens or absorbs the shock or blow that would otherwise be produced, and prevents the upper or lower portions of the limb from being broken by folding into sudden contact with the upper end of the lower portion. While I have shown this cushion on the upper portion,

yet it will be understood of course that it may be arranged on the lower portion, and that my idea is met whether it be arranged on the one portion or the other, so long as it is in position to receive the shock and prevent breakage of either of the parts.

In order to let the cord or strap, by which the limb is attached to the body, move and slip enough out of its point of connection with the limb, to accommodate the limb to the movements of the body, I provide the upper portion of the limb with overlapping ears, H, forming circular recesses between them and the limb, in which the cord or strap is arranged as the limb is attached to the body. These.

ears are preferably formed of the same ma terial as the rest of the limb, and integral therewithand vulcanized with it. They thus form recesses, which, as the cord or strap moves in them, constantly wear more smooth andup into the li mb, so that there is noliability of the cord or strap wearing the car off so as to necesitate the renewal of the same from time to time. These ears may be connected at their lower edge to the limb by means of braces 72., as shown in Fig. 1, so as to increase their strength, in which case the cord or strap is arranged in its position by slipping the end through the recess under the cars. This arrangement will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings, and need not be further described in detail.

I prefer to make the limb in sections, as shown, so that when it is desired to take out a section and insert a longer one to compensate for wear or the growth of the person using the limb, such change may readily be effected. It will be noticed also that the various nuts, and most of the metallic pieces used in the construction of the limb, are embedded and covered in the vulcanized rubber, so that they are preserved from oxidation, which would injure and impair them, were they not so' covered and inclosed.

I claim 1. In artificial limbs, the combination of a plaster cast, metallic strengthening strips, nails or rivets fastening the strips to the plaster cast, and layers of vulcanized rubber covering and inclosing the whole, substantially as described.

2. In artificial limbs, the combination of a lower portion provided with upwardly extending lugs having holes therethrough, an upper portion having its lower end arranged to lap the lugs and provided with a hole therethrough, a bolt passing through the holes in the lugs and the lower end of the upper portion, and means for holding the bolt against the upper edge of the hole in the upper portion of the limb to compensate for wear, sub- ALEXANDER GAUL'I.

Witnesses THOMAS A. BANNING, EPHRAIM BANNING. 

